Argus - 1978 No 4

Magazine Overview

This issue of ARGUS, volume 2, number 4, from 1978, is a member magazine for UFO Gävle Förening, affiliated with UFO-Sweden. It is published six times a year and covers topics related to UFOs, ancient mysteries, and space exploration.

Cover Story: Ancient Knowledge of Spaceships

The cover story poses the question: 'Did humans 2,500 years ago know more about spaceships than we do today?' It highlights the enigmatic planet Venus, its mythological past, and its unusual retrograde rotation, speculated to be caused by a collision. The article notes that ancient cultures like the Maya, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Koreans all believed their ancestors came from Venus, despite vast geographical separation. The Maya, in particular, are credited with precise astronomical calculations and calendars, raising questions about the source of their advanced knowledge.

Ancient Astronauts and Ezekiel's Vision

The magazine explores the possibility of an extraterrestrial civilization influencing Earth. It references NASA's theoretical project to relocate Earth and discusses the biblical account of the prophet Ezekiel, who described a landing craft with 'wings' and a 'pilot's seat.' J.F. Blumrich, chief engineer of the Gemini Project, is cited for reconstructing Ezekiel's vision into a detailed modern spaceship design, suggesting that such technology was far advanced for its time.

Ancient Maps and Unexplained Artifacts

An article discusses a world map from 1513 by Turkish admiral Piri Reis, which accurately depicted continents and coastlines not yet discovered by Europeans. The map's precision, even showing land bridges that are now submerged, has baffled researchers. The article also mentions ancient gold airplane models found in South America and Japan, dating back 2,500 years, which are aerodynamically advanced and suggest a lost technology or extraterrestrial influence.

Tiahuanaco: A City of Mysteries

This section delves into the ancient city of Tiahuanaco, located at 4,000 meters in the Andes. Despite the harsh environment, the city features massive, precisely cut stone blocks, sophisticated water systems, and enigmatic stone heads with diverse features and helmets. The monolithic Sun Gate, carved from a single block, is highlighted as a significant archaeological wonder. The article questions the origin of this advanced culture and its knowledge.

UFO Sightings in Sweden

The magazine includes several reports of UFO sightings in Sweden:

• Tallberg, Sweden (July 21, 1978): A circular hole, about 50 cm in diameter, was found in a field. No soil was displaced, and blue-white fragments were discovered, leading to speculation that a craft from space had landed.
• Viksberg, Sweden (December 27, 1975): An observer reported a star-like object, larger than Venus, that moved erratically, changed direction, and emitted a strong yellow-white glow.
• Eskilstuna, Sweden (New Year's Eve, 1976): Two phenomena were observed from a balcony: a steady white light moving across the sky and a similar light appearing suddenly at a lower altitude.
• Nyköping, Sweden (New Year's Eve, 1976): A bright light, larger than a star, was seen hovering silently above the treeline before disappearing.
• Storsjön, Sweden (July 30, 1977): A high-altitude object was observed and photographed, initially mistaken for an antenna mast. It remained visible for an hour.
• Valbo, Sweden (November 16, 1976): An orange light, the size of a full moon, was seen moving rapidly with sudden jumps and emitting orange beams from its underside. It was completely silent.

Editorial Stance

The editorial section thanks Anna Berglin for providing material and welcomes new members. It expresses a desire to expand the UFO Gävle Förening to include the entire Gävleborgs län, aiming for a more representative and stronger organization. The editorial team acknowledges their amateur status and encourages members and outsiders to provide feedback to improve the magazine. The mention of 'KUNGSBERGET' at the end suggests a local point of interest or ongoing investigation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of ARGUS consistently explores the intersection of ancient history, advanced technology, and unexplained aerial phenomena. The magazine leans towards the hypothesis of ancient astronauts and extraterrestrial influence on human civilization, citing archaeological evidence, ancient texts, and modern UFO reports. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry and a desire to expand understanding of these phenomena, encouraging reader participation and feedback to foster a more comprehensive and accurate representation of the subject matter.

This issue of "Post" magazine, dated June 16, 1966, focuses heavily on UFO phenomena, presenting a detailed historical sighting and other related reports, alongside astronomical and technological articles.

1897 UFO Sighting Over Le Roy, Kansas

The main feature details a remarkable UFO observation from April 19, 1897, reported by farmer Alexander Hamilton. The account, originally published in the "St. Louis Globe-Democrat" and later revived by the "Reporter" weekly, describes a "Zeppelinare" or airship descending near Hamilton's farm. The object was cigar-shaped, approximately 100 meters long, with a basket-like underside made of glass panels and other materials. It was illuminated from within and featured a powerful searchlight, along with red and green lights. Hamilton and his family witnessed six strange beings on board, described as two men, a woman, and three children, who chattered amongst themselves. The craft's dark red exterior was visible, and it was lit up by the object's lights. A peculiar incident involved a calf being tethered by a centimeter-thick red cable to the craft before it ascended rapidly with the calf and disappeared to the northwest. Hamilton reported being deeply disturbed and unable to sleep. Later, Link Thomas found the calf's skin, bones, and head on his farm, confirming Hamilton's account. The article notes that ten well-known residents of Woodson County, including the sheriff, vouched for Alexander Hamilton's integrity.

UFO Observations and Reports

UFO Observation in Venezuela

A separate report describes a sighting on September 7, 1976, in La Guaira, Venezuela. The author and a companion observed a spherical or disc-shaped object moving at high speed across the sky. It lacked the navigation lights of a conventional aircraft and was estimated to be about the size of an orange. The object moved from west to east at a speed faster than any observed aircraft. Marie van Heugten, initially a skeptic, became convinced by the sighting.

Historical UFO Press Reports (1947-1951)

This section compiles a series of newspaper clippings detailing UFO sightings and related events between 1947 and 1951:

• July 5, 1947 (Los Angeles Examiner): An article questions if "flying saucers" are connected to atomic experiments, featuring a photograph of a flying disc taken by Yeoman Ryman.
• July 9, 1947 (Los Angeles Examiner): Another photograph of a flying disc is published, with reports of "luminous discs" seen over Kentucky.
• January 7, 1948 (The Louisville Courier): Captain Thomas F. Mantell of the Kentucky Air National Guard died when his F-51 crashed while pursuing a flying saucer or the planet Venus near Godman's field.
• February 18, 1948 (The Omamba Herald): A farmer near Stockton, Kansas, reported seeing flying saucers before a large, unexplained explosion occurred.
• April 5, 1948 (Manilla P.I.): A flying saucer evaded a military fighter jet with a sharp 90-degree turn, disappearing quickly and leaving no exhaust traces.
• April 8, 1948 (Ashley, Ohio): Numerous witnesses reported seeing a long, silver streak in the sky, which meteorologists suggested might be related to weather balloons.
• July 28, 1948 (Los Angeles Herald and Express): Over fifteen people in Georgia reported seeing a fireball with a luminous tail, described in various colors. Two pilots in Alabama reported seeing silver, slow-moving objects flying from west to east.

Astronomy Section

The Chromosphere

This section explains the Sun's chromosphere, a colored layer visible during total solar eclipses. It is a 10,000 km thick atmospheric layer outside the photosphere. The temperature initially decreases with altitude but then rises dramatically, reaching 400,000 degrees at 10,000 km. Granulation on the photosphere has a counterpart in the chromosphere as small "tongues of fire" shooting upwards.

Protuberances and Filaments

Protuberances are described as clouds of hydrogen floating high above the chromosphere. They can be calm and long-lasting or active and eruptive, shooting out from the Sun at high speeds. They often resemble draperies. Filaments are these same structures observed against the bright solar disk, appearing as dark, thread-like formations. Their distribution is linked to sunspot activity.

Radio Section: Liquid Crystals

This part of the magazine discusses "liquid crystals," chemical substances with optical properties similar to solid crystals, controllable by electric fields. These are used in electronic devices like digital watches to display time. Applying an electric field can disrupt the molecular orientation, causing the liquid to become "milky" due to light scattering. This technology is referred to as "Dynamic Shattering."

Suggestions for Further Reading

The magazine provides a list of suggested books on UFOs, ancient technology, the paranormal, and science fiction, including titles in both Swedish and English.

Ten Ways to Split a Club

A satirical list of ten "commandments" for members who wish to sabotage a club, such as never attending meetings, arriving late, criticizing decisions, and avoiding participation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents a pro-UFO and open-minded stance, featuring historical accounts and contemporary sightings with a serious tone. The inclusion of astronomical and technological articles suggests an interest in scientific explanations and phenomena, while the satirical "Ten Ways to Split a Club" adds a touch of humor and commentary on group dynamics. The editorial stance appears to be one of exploring unexplained phenomena and encouraging critical yet open-minded inquiry.